Indian Wells Blackout Stout

Indian Wells Brewing, up north in Inyokern, Calif., is best known for a reddish lager called Mojave Red (they even use mojave-red.com as the brewery's website name), but it produces a wide range of brews. For the Whole Foods Market chain, it's making an attractive dry stout: dark, practically opaque, but with no molasses note and a low level of bitterness. The finish has a faint burnt flavor and a touch of sweetness, and altogether it's an exceptionally well-behaved stout, one that doesn't become tiring after a single glass. It would be great with cheesy dishes such as macaroni and cheese.